CHAPTER 14 #4
He started drinking uncontrollably.
In the past, he might have had a drink once a month, but now he was having two or three drinks every day.
His control over food seemed to be almost non-existent, and gout returned, causing excruciating pain at night.
This change was hard to explain. It could be that he subconsciously wanted to compensate for certain deficiencies and regrets, or perhaps food and wine had become the last solace in his serious life.
Even if it meant enduring gout in exchange, he no longer cared.
Sforza was quite satisfied with the harmonious relationship between his wife and mistresses. His round belly had grown even larger.
"Why didn't you bring that young lady this time?" he casually remarked, swirling his wine glass. "My wife is pregnant now, and I was hoping she could help take care of her."
The lord silently took the glass filled with wine, took a sip, and set it down.
After all, it wasn't as good as the aged wine from the oak barrels.
"She's been ill recently," Lorenzo said faintly. "She's resting in the palace."
"That's a pity," Sforza shrugged, then began to talk about a charming brunette woman he'd recently taken a liking to.
Lorenzo stayed in Milan for seven days, and Dechio came to report back truthfully.
Hedy was living well in Milan, becoming healthier and more relaxed.
She would go out for morning prayers or attend a play and browse through antique markets.
She had her own little courtyard and kept a few white ducks.
Guards, arranged secretly in the vicinity, took shifts. A few days ago, they had chased away a thief who tried to climb over the wall.
"Is autumn in Ferrara beautiful?"
The lord looked toward the east, paused for a moment, and then climbed into the carriage back to Florence.
"Take care of her."
Dechio had actually vaguely sensed something, and hesitated to quietly ask beside the carriage, "What if she has a lover?"
Should I tell you?
The lord lowered his head and smiled, not answering her question, and waved his hand.
The carriage gradually disappeared from the maid's view, kicking up several oak leaves.
The first thing Hedy did after returning was check if there were any signs of intrusion in the courtyard.
Before leaving, she had secretly made several arrangements without Dechio knowing, even pinning a strand of hair to her notebook, tilted at a sixty-degree angle facing north.
No one had entered her study or any other part of the house.
She sighed in relief and began to solve the issue of coloring with the litmus solution.
It was originally a lichen plant, an organic substance that could decay and spoil.
On the way back, they had gradually figured out the best way to filter it and had even made several filters.
But this liquid had to be strong enough to color well, leaving a clear mark on the canvas and wall, and it had to last a long time.
If she had to repeatedly squeeze and let it sit before every painting session, it would be a huge waste of time.
Da Vinci poured her a glass of wine, his expression slightly curious.
"Why not try adding it directly to the egg tempera?"
Hedy stared at the glass of wine for a moment, then suddenly cheered.
"I’ve got it!"
She stretched out her arms and gave him a big hug before running to the wine cellar.
She found a large bottle of freshly brewed wine and began setting up the equipment for distillation.
The scent of grapes spread through the air, making one almost feel hungry.
Da Vinci still hadn’t quite figured out how he ended up with a hug when he turned around and saw her coming back with a bottle of pale liquid.
"What’s this?"
Ethanol, the simplest dyeing agent for industrial pigments.
And it could also be used as a preservative.
The filtered dark purple solution was thoroughly mixed with the alcohol, and after dipping it, she brushed it on white paper.
The delicate traces were much clearer than before.
Hedy thought for a moment and decided to start preparing for a new workshop.
She was going to sell paint and make money, as fast as possible.
Money, after all, had all sorts of uses.
In the modern world, it would be used to pay medical bills, buy housing, and purchase various necessities.
But in this era, she had bolder plans.
— To form a fleet.
A fleet that belonged only to her.
Due to the inconvenient transportation, they were now trapped on the peninsula, and even a trip to France was quite difficult.
But if they could get their fleet's people to circumnavigate the ocean earlier than Magellan, they could acquire more things—rubber, cinchona trees, black pepper, and all sorts of other things she wanted. Ideally, she wanted to bring back a sample of everything.
Hedy’s assets were now enough for her to purchase a small estate, but living here had already become comfortable and leisurely.
She not only hired private guards but also rapidly expanded the size of her workshop. In the future, hiring sailors and captains would likely not be a difficult task.
As a modern person with strong execution skills, she spent the entire Christmas preparing these matters.
From signing the contract for a stable supply of copper sulfate ore to purchasing the barren land overrun with litmus plants, everything was progressing smoothly and in an organized manner.
The reassuring part was that this year's Christmas passed without incident.
There were no assassinations, no riots, and nothing particularly distressing.
On Christmas Eve, a letter arrived from Florence.
Aside from the usual greetings, the lord's wife mentioned that Lorenzo’s gout had started to flare up more frequently again and seemed to be affecting his movement.
As a result, he had begun to use a cane, though when he was in better health, it wasn’t noticeable.
Hedy quickly replied to the letter, explaining that gout couldn’t be treated with surgery or medication and that it was best managed through controlling diet and alcohol consumption.
In this era, she would never rashly perform surgery on anyone—it was completely beyond her ability.
The spring of 1484 finally arrived.
In January of that year, a brand-new paint specialty shop opened in the busiest area, and its business was so booming that it was almost unbelievable.
The world’s most expensive blues and purples were sold at just a tenth of their usual price, and the colors were stable with a faint fragrance.
The crazy artists rushed in as soon as the doors opened, and the paintings in churches and palaces began to have more vibrant colors.
Due to the incredible success of the business, the shop could even close after just a short time in the morning—
Someone tried to hoard stock, but was quickly surrounded and beaten by other artists.
The prices were so low and the quality so superior that many merchants selling lapis lazuli and murex purple were forced to lower their prices reluctantly, after being snubbed.
As a result, people tasted the benefits and started purchasing these colors with even more fervor—
Though purple was supposed to be a color for the nobility, this was Milan, and no one cared about such things.
The shopkeeper was quite mysterious, often leaving assistants to rotate shifts running the shop.
But given the amount of money being made without attracting the attention of the church or the court, he was probably someone with powerful connections.
During this period, Sforza issued a decree to develop the pastoral industry.
Although his private life was somewhat chaotic, his efforts for the country's development were always admirable.
This regent believed that the strength of a nation came from the prosperity of its economy. Whether developing the military or building academies, the priority should be to strengthen the finances.
He established a huge farm and livestock research facility near Vigevano, where it was said that they raised around twenty to thirty thousand cattle, horses, and sheep, with the best horses in all of Europe.
Hedy smelled the opportunity and quickly made a similar investment.
She found a grazing area with fertile grasslands and, at a reasonable price, bought the land. She then began hiring workers to build the ranch.
The trend of slavery began to rise in this era, with Moors being bought and sold like black slaves.
However, Hedy directly purchased a large portion of the Moors and gave them new identities and income freedom. She even sent people to teach them more advanced production skills.
The honest and earnest Moors understood what this meant and worked even harder when doing their tasks.
Horses, sheep, goats, as well as various egg-laying chickens and meat chickens, were all introduced to excellent breeding programs.
The meat chickens didn't need to be taken for walks; they were kept in pens and only needed to be fed and watered.
Under Hedy's guidance, Da Vinci designed grain bins and water troughs that could circulate and were easy to replenish, even developing a clever method for handling waste.
The price of meat in Milan began to slowly decrease.
People gradually noticed that chicken and lamb supplies were becoming more abundant, and the prices were now affordable.
Once the demand for her paint reached saturation, Hedy began exporting it to cities like Florence, Venice, and Ferrara. More and more merchants tried to source from her, and Persian traders lost the popularity they once had.
Da Vinci remained his usual self, going out early and returning late, working on the frescoes and dome designs at the Milan Cathedral. But over time, he started spending more time painting for his patron.
Now, his only patron was a young lady from the Medici family.
Atalante sometimes helped by passing brushes or scrapers, watching closely as he worked.
One afternoon, he couldn't help but share his thoughts.
"Leonardo," the young man took a sip of juice, "do you like her?"
The painter's movements faltered for a moment, and he instinctively retorted, "That's not something you should be asking."